title: Molecular electrostatics for probing lone pair-π interactions.
abstract: An electrostatics-based approach has been proposed for probing the weak interactions between lone pair containing molecules and π deficient molecular systems. For electron-rich molecules, the negative minima in molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) topography give the location of electron localization and the MESP value at the minimum (Vmin) quantifies the electron-rich character of that region. Interactive behavior of a lone pair bearing molecule with electron deficient π-systems, such as hexafluorobenzene, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trifluoro-1,3,5-triazine and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene explored within DFT brings out good correlation of the lone pair-π interaction energy (E(int)) with the Vmin value of the electron-rich system. Such interaction is found to be portrayed well with the Electrostatic Potential for Intermolecular Complexation (EPIC) model. On the basis of the precise location of MESP minimum, a prediction for the orientation of a lone pair bearing molecule with an electron deficient π-system is possible in the majority of the cases studied.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Trivandrum, 695019, India. sureshch@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Neetha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: Cherumuttathu H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Suresh
authors.forename: Anmol
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Shridhar R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Gadre
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000737:chemistry*; D011789:Quantum Theory; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals